Windows Server 2003 - Can I set it up myself, or should I hire an expert?

Question

I'm pretty comfortable with computers, but am not an IT expert and have never set up a server before. Our small company just bought our first server - a Dell Power Edge SC440 with Windows Server 2003. We have four client PCs. I was thinking of installing and setting up the server myself, rather than paying someone to do it (the Dell quote was about $1,000). Is it reasonable for me to try to set it up myself, or do I really need to have an expert do it for me? I don't know how complicated it is to set up Windows Server 2003. I can install an OS on a desktop or laptop reasonably well, and do other similar tasks, but like I said I have never set up a server before. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Although it's not all that difficult there are many traps and pitfalls that can cause you trouble.

If you wish to try it yourself, pick up a book on Server 2003 & Active Directory. Run through the installation a few times and use a couple of spare PCs to practice adding machines to Active Directory and testing the functionality.

This is just like the big companies do it -- we run through testing in a laboratory environment before we put it in production This way we both learn from our mistakes (and we do make them, trust me!) as well as learn of any quirks in the system and how to work around them.

The basic installation of Windows Server 2003 isn't much different from installing XP. However, setting up DNS and Active Directory is where things get tricky. I've lost count of the number of times I've had to correct mis-configurations in DNS to get Active Directory working properly. (An extremely common error is using the ISP's DNS servers in the network card configuration on any machine in an Active Directory environment. That's guaranteed to cause problems with AD!)

If you don't have the time to test things out fully, you'd be best advised to hire an expert to do it. Dell's quote of $1,000 to set up a server and connect 4 PCs to Active Directory is on the high side of average.

Be sure you know exactly what is included in the stated price. It needs to include setting up the hardware, installing the OS, installing DNS & Active Directory, and adding all of your PCs to Active Directory as well as training you on basic administration tasks such as creating user accounts, adding new machines to the network and managing security permissions.

Depending upon your current network configuration and the OS running on your PCs this sould take between 8 & 12 hours on average. The technician doing the work should have plenty of experience in Active Directory and shoud either be certified or work under the close supervision of someone with extensive experience and / or certification.

Answer 2

The problem is that security on Windows Server 2003 is setup out of the box differently than previous versions of Windows Server OS. With Windows Server 2003 nearly all security is settings are enabled while previous versions of Windows Server install with security mostly turned off.

If your server is not connected to the Internet I would say try to set it up yourself. If you run into trouble you can always hire an expert after the fact. If you plan to connect your server to the Internet then perhaps you should hire a consultant initially.

Answer 3

The server depending on how you are going to use it delivers the internet, software applications, e-mail and just about anything else you can configure it for to the client machines. So unless you are familiar with SMTP, POP, TCP/IP, WINS, DHCP, .NET, HTTP and a few other protocols call an expert.

A server is not like setting up a desktop machine.

That being said, if you don't need the thing to run immediately; why not give it a try? Sometimes you can learn all you need to know simply by doing it yourself.

Answer 4

it is very easy i am 15 and have it setup at my house!!!!! and there is a ton of help files on it.